- 369
- Posts
- 16
- Years
- Age 31
- Bangor, Wales
- Seen May 26, 2012
Rated T
Genres: Action, attempted Mystery, perhaps a touch of Drama, possibly Romance, includes both Canon-Based Characters and Original Trainers all played out in a School setting (with justification - not AU).
Welcome and thank you for selecting Menrionas for your daily dose of fanfiction today. The first thing I'd like to complain about is the title. I was really stuck choosing the title so just went with the type that sounds odd and interesting to start with but is boring once you know what it means.
Or at least once you think you know what it means.
Oops! Spoiler! Ignore that.
Basically I haven't written fanfiction in...a long time and writing is a hobby I'd like to take further, so I really should practice. I should state now that I am terrible at writing short stories, so chances are this is going to go on for a while unless I forget to feed it. This story follows game canon mostly but might borrow elements, intentional or otherwise, from other Pokemon media.
Summary: It has been seven years since Leaf last saw her brother, the legendary Champion of Kanto Red. With his name tied to hers, she finds herself constantly living in his shadow. After the Education Reform of 20xx, she can no longer surpass him on a Journey but is instead locked to school! But Menrionas Academy has more than just awards in its history... And the world outside refuses to stop. Leaf soon finds herself entangled in a web of mystery that stretches from the depths of Time and Space and into her own past.
~~~~~~~
"You must be getting rusty!" the masked man laughed, the stream of flame shooting harmlessly over his shoulder. The Magnezone beneath his feet soared further away from the cliff face. Red gritted his teeth, urging his Charizard to give chase. The Magnezone kept its distance, blasting off Thunderbolts like a cannon. Charizard returned fire with Flamethrower, the distance keeping both attacks from striking true.
A cold wind was swirling through the air. Suppressing a shiver, Red glanced down at the crags below. If either of them fell, it was certain death.
"Fire a Twister, aim for the trainer." He whispered into his Pokémon's ear. Growling in acknowledgement, he let loose a blast of spiralling wind trained on the enemy.
"Halt." Psi ordered his Magnezone. Without hesitation it stopped dead in its tracks to face the attack. He spread his arms in welcome. The Twister hit them with full force, tearing at the man's clothes. But he didn't even flinch. "Anyone else feel a light breeze?" he asked with a faceless grin.
Red's eyes narrowed. That's not right...
"Get closer. Let's tear him off ourselves." With a roar of approval, Charizard surged forward with a stretch of the wings. Red could feel the dragon-like Pokémon's excitement flowing into him and had to admit he felt the same. It had been a long time since his blood had truly boiled with fighting energy so. But his blood was boiling with something else too, which was also being transferred to the Flame Pokémon. Rage.
Charizard tucked in his wings to avoid another incoming flashing yellow streak. Red blinked out the stars in his eyes, subconsciously ordering a Smokescreen. Black smog billowed out of Charizard's mouth as he began to dive. Now as Psi looked down, all he could see was a dark cloud shielding his opponent.
"I expected something more original from you, Red!" The champion heard the masked man yell. Charizard had extended his wings, maintaining height just below the smoke, waiting. Above, the man's mask lit up as a thin beam of lighting shot up from the Magnet Area Pokémon's antennae. The beam pierced a cloud like a needle, turning it black like a poison. "Let it pour."
Suddenly the orange dragon burst through his own cloud, rising rapidly towards his foe's position. Red tightened his grip on Charizard's shoulders, the wind threatening to pry him off. The instant he had appeared, Magnezone's three magnets aimed downwards. Charizard nimbly strafed and twirled between the heated blasts of voltage, focus unshakeable.
In a matter of seconds they were face to face.
"You're open!" Red roared in triumph, a grin slashed across his face. Charizard's claw ripped forward towards the enemy trainer, intent to rend him in two. There was nowhere to escape to.
Or so he thought.
Laughing almost maniacally, Psi leapt backwards off his Magnezone, plummeting to the vicious depths below.
"Discharge!" The Magnezone blasted a field of electricity, striking both Red and his Pokémon point-blank.
For but a moment, Red could contain the pain. He could feel the electricity ravage him, rampaging through his bones, stabbing spikes into his muscles.
The moment passed.
"Red!" Leaf shouted out desperately, hearing her brother's tortured scream. She instinctively tried to reach for him. The pain in her shoulder and leg flared in protest to the sudden movement. Slumping back against the boulder, a tear took shape in her eye. "I'm so useless...I can't...I can't help him."[FONT="]
[/FONT]
It started to rain.
~~~~~~~
Author's Notes
~~~~~~~
The S.S Elpis was bobbing ever so slightly as she waited impatiently in Vermillion Harbour. Huge and imposing, the Elpis was hardly forgiving to those with Butterfree in their stomachs. She was certainly a beautiful ship, comparable to the world famous S.S Anne, with her glinting white hull spotless from religious scrubbing from state of the art machinery and a lone, prideful, black funnel. Adorning both sides of the Elpis was both her name and a large symbol: two golden, mirroring half rings enclosing a black circle with the initials MA within.
Menrionas Academy.
Leaf was transfixed by the emblem, her Butterfree mutating into a rampaging Tauros. Thirteen years old, average height and weight, long brown hair, to Leaf, she was completely alien to the grand ship that commanded attention. Unsure what to wear, she stuck with her simple duo of a sleeveless blue shirt and red skirt. She tugged the brim of what she considered her signature white hat nervously, pulling it further over her face. A familiar hand placed itself soothingly on her shoulder;
"Don't worry so much, everything will be fine." Her mother smiled, slightly teary-eyed, "My baby is growing up." Leaf tried to smile back, though the Tauros was having none of it. "The crowd is certainly smaller than I'd expect." She added, trying to change the subject. There were certainly a lot of people, yet not the huge masses one would expect at a send-off to one of the most prestigious schools on this side of the planet. "That entry exam must have really been something."
"It's better this way." Leaf muttered. She hated crowds; the fewer the merrier. The air was filled with timorous chatter as they waited to say their last goodbyes. The girl watched as another student ascended the stairs to the ship. Two of them in fact: a boy and a girl. With the human blockade in front of them, she couldn't see who they were waving to. That'll be me soon. "Do I really have to go Mum?"
"Now Leaf..." she replied slowly, "This is an opportunity many people would give their right arm for and-"
"If they did that, they'd be kicked out because they couldn't keep up with the work."
"Enough of the cheek, thank you." Her mother snapped dryly, "Listen, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Chances like this don't come often so-"
"You're repeating yourself."
"So you should make the most of it, just like..." She suddenly trailed off, "We're almost there."
"We have plenty of time. Finish your speech." Leaf said with more than a flash of annoyance. "Just like my brother and his friends? Just like Red and Blue and...and Yellow right?" People were beginning to turn round as a young girl's voice rose spectacularly. Picking this up, Leaf decided to devolve to simmering silently. The mother exhaled heavily,
"You are not them and they aren't you. Life isn't a competition y'know."
"Because I wouldn't stand a chance, right?"
"You don't make this easy, do you?"
"Well Brendan? We're finally on our way!" The girl grinned to the boy, "I'm so excited!" Her shoulder-length, brown hair was parted at the back to each side in a rather unique style with a red bandanna with a white Pokéball print. Following the colour scheme was her red t-shirt with a high collar and black shorts, along with a pair of red running shoes that were all the rage. She leant over the railing to wave her gloved hand one last time at the man, her father, still waiting for the boat to leave.
"Yeah, great. From travelling to school. Really, really great. Can't wait." grimaced the boy, Brendan. He was fairly tall for his age with short black hair and golden-brown eyes. He sported a black and red long-sleeved shirt and long black trousers which turned yellow near the bottom. "Hey, May, do you know where the food is?"
"Already hungry? Jeez, that didn't take long." May smirked as she left the railing. "Come on, I know the way!" She punched a fist into the air, heading decidedly in one direction.
"Hey, care to keep a low profile? I don't want people to notice me..." he winced, "And what do you mean you 'know the way'? You've never been on this boat before!"
"People will find out about you eventually, second-placer. No doubt you'll manage to get into a battle somewhere along the way. And I've been on boats before." She called back over her shoulder. Brendan raised his eyebrows at the last remark,
"That one ferry to Johto was nothing like a boat." He said irritably, not approving the 'second-placer' comment.
"Wasn't talking about that. The boats between Slateport and Lilycove, ha!"
"Those are ferries as well! How can you not tell the difference!?" But apparently she was already out of earshot, marching right past the sign pointing to the cafeteria. Resigning himself to his fate, he followed after her, wondering when he'd ever get something to eat. "How can someone so smart be so...?"
Professor Birch smiled contently to himself as his daughter left his sight, hidden by the bulk of the ship. A man nearing forty now still in light green shorts and a navy blue vest with a short yet thick beard along his jaw, one would hardly believe him to be a famous and accomplished Pokémon researcher, head of the Hoenn Pokémon Research Branch. Stepping aside to allow the next family to approach, he found himself gazing wistfully out to sea. A specialist in Pokémon Habitats and Distribution, the seas between regions held an allure of mystery about them and at the present moment he longed for nothing more than to get on that boat and head into the great blue.
He probably could have arranged to join his daughter and protégé on board, but he decided that it would be best to let them thrive on their own. Obviously meaning that May had talked him down till he agreed to let her go alone. Still, he had managed to convince her to let him join them to visit Brendan's native region, Johto, before they left for Menrionas. He shuddered at the thought of taking the Magnet Train again.
"I think I'll take the ferry to Olivine instead..." he grumbled to himself. Just then a clear ringing noise began emanating from his pocket. He dug out his Pok[FONT="]éNav: a compact, orange, vaguely disk-shaped device that could double as a handheld video phone. Activating it by pressing the large blue button in its centre, the square top half slip up to reveal a small screen flashing a name. "Oh?" he muttered in surprise, pressing the blue button again, "Now why would you of all people be contacting me?"[/FONT]
I guess it's time. Leaf thought numbly as the stairs to the deck faced her. Her mother was nattering away about looking after herself, not mixing with the wrong crowd, being sure to brush her teeth every day, eat well...the exact same stuff she had told Leaf about a dozen times before even arriving in Vermillion. Meanwhile, her daughter's Tauros had turned into a Gyarados: she was really starting to feel sick. Her mother smiled as she saw this, deciding to spare her one last lecture. She could be cheeky and over-competitive, but Leaf was a responsible young girl who really wanted to achieve.
"Just give me one last hug and be sure to come back for the holidays." She beamed, wrapping her arms around the nervous girl, "You're gonna do brilliant, I just know it." Leaf hugged her back, mumbling something. "If only your father could see you now. He'd be just as proud of you as I am." She felt the girl's arms tighten around her. "Now off you go." They broke apart.
"Love you Mum." She said, taking the stairs. Her suitcase had already been brought aboard, so she only had her yellow hip bag with her. The journey would last a day and a half and she knew absolutely no-one on board.
"Love you sweetheart! Good luck!" Leaf waved over her shoulder, smiling weakly in reply. Her mother sighed deeply as her daughter stepped onto the deck. Moving out of the way for the next family, she looked for a place to wait – eyeing a miraculously empty bench.
She sat for a while, watching the queue thin as more children ascended the boat, saying their teary yet joyful goodbyes. After watching a pair of girls break away from their respective families to head up together, she noticed someone approaching her.
"Um...ah, Mrs. Yamaguchi?" Professor Birch asked. She looked up in surprise, but he didn't look like a news flunky.
"Yes, that's me."
"Ah...ah yes, good." He said, sitting down next to her. He seemed anxious. "I need to talk to you about..."
The deck was thankfully not greatly crowded; the congregation in the harbour was mostly family it seemed. There certainly were plenty of people but she still had enough breathing space. Unsure what to do with herself, Leaf chose to merely wander the deck. They would soon be in uniform, something Leaf had never had to do in her previous school, so this would be the first chance in a while to get a real idea of her new peers. You could figure out a lot about a kid from his wardrobe. Was she popular? A rebel? A wannabe? Was she a loner? Studious? An outcast?
She felt incredibly conscious of how lame she must look, wandering around alone. The girl considered checking out the food, determined to find it an inadequate replacement for her mother's, but kept thinking the horn will blow for departure if she did anything. Smiling to herself as a rather loud girl passed her as she metaphorically dragged a boy with her, Leaf decided to just go and sit down.
The horn sounded.
Naturally... She smirked to herself, taking pleasure in successfully predicting the world's attempt to annoy her. Joining the rush to port side, waving her hands frantically at the crowd, she managed to single out her mother, returning her blown kisses. Her mother was standing next to a strange man also waving into the crowd with a goofy grin on his face.
The boat pulled away, the families shrinking with each rise and fall of the deck. Her own journey had begun. The sun felt fantastic on her face. The waves sounded safe and reassuring.
Everything will be fine.
-----------------------------------------------
Menrionas Academy Fact:
Menrionas Academy is located on an island (named Menrionas, hence the name) between Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and the Sevii Islands, the first regions to join the United Regions. The island resides in an area of the sea previously unclaimed, not in any of its surrounding region's waters.
The very first congresses between Kanto and Sevii were held there to discuss union, later joined by Kanto's neighbour, Johto, and Hoenn. Thus the seas around Menrionas Island were proclaimed to be the territory of the United Regions, rather than any single region.
-----------------------------------------------
Author's Notes:
Genres: Action, attempted Mystery, perhaps a touch of Drama, possibly Romance, includes both Canon-Based Characters and Original Trainers all played out in a School setting (with justification - not AU).
Welcome and thank you for selecting Menrionas for your daily dose of fanfiction today. The first thing I'd like to complain about is the title. I was really stuck choosing the title so just went with the type that sounds odd and interesting to start with but is boring once you know what it means.
Or at least once you think you know what it means.
Oops! Spoiler! Ignore that.
Basically I haven't written fanfiction in...a long time and writing is a hobby I'd like to take further, so I really should practice. I should state now that I am terrible at writing short stories, so chances are this is going to go on for a while unless I forget to feed it. This story follows game canon mostly but might borrow elements, intentional or otherwise, from other Pokemon media.
Summary: It has been seven years since Leaf last saw her brother, the legendary Champion of Kanto Red. With his name tied to hers, she finds herself constantly living in his shadow. After the Education Reform of 20xx, she can no longer surpass him on a Journey but is instead locked to school! But Menrionas Academy has more than just awards in its history... And the world outside refuses to stop. Leaf soon finds herself entangled in a web of mystery that stretches from the depths of Time and Space and into her own past.
~~~~~~~
Prologue
A cold wind was swirling through the air. Suppressing a shiver, Red glanced down at the crags below. If either of them fell, it was certain death.
"Fire a Twister, aim for the trainer." He whispered into his Pokémon's ear. Growling in acknowledgement, he let loose a blast of spiralling wind trained on the enemy.
"Halt." Psi ordered his Magnezone. Without hesitation it stopped dead in its tracks to face the attack. He spread his arms in welcome. The Twister hit them with full force, tearing at the man's clothes. But he didn't even flinch. "Anyone else feel a light breeze?" he asked with a faceless grin.
Red's eyes narrowed. That's not right...
"Get closer. Let's tear him off ourselves." With a roar of approval, Charizard surged forward with a stretch of the wings. Red could feel the dragon-like Pokémon's excitement flowing into him and had to admit he felt the same. It had been a long time since his blood had truly boiled with fighting energy so. But his blood was boiling with something else too, which was also being transferred to the Flame Pokémon. Rage.
Charizard tucked in his wings to avoid another incoming flashing yellow streak. Red blinked out the stars in his eyes, subconsciously ordering a Smokescreen. Black smog billowed out of Charizard's mouth as he began to dive. Now as Psi looked down, all he could see was a dark cloud shielding his opponent.
"I expected something more original from you, Red!" The champion heard the masked man yell. Charizard had extended his wings, maintaining height just below the smoke, waiting. Above, the man's mask lit up as a thin beam of lighting shot up from the Magnet Area Pokémon's antennae. The beam pierced a cloud like a needle, turning it black like a poison. "Let it pour."
Suddenly the orange dragon burst through his own cloud, rising rapidly towards his foe's position. Red tightened his grip on Charizard's shoulders, the wind threatening to pry him off. The instant he had appeared, Magnezone's three magnets aimed downwards. Charizard nimbly strafed and twirled between the heated blasts of voltage, focus unshakeable.
In a matter of seconds they were face to face.
"You're open!" Red roared in triumph, a grin slashed across his face. Charizard's claw ripped forward towards the enemy trainer, intent to rend him in two. There was nowhere to escape to.
Or so he thought.
Laughing almost maniacally, Psi leapt backwards off his Magnezone, plummeting to the vicious depths below.
"Discharge!" The Magnezone blasted a field of electricity, striking both Red and his Pokémon point-blank.
For but a moment, Red could contain the pain. He could feel the electricity ravage him, rampaging through his bones, stabbing spikes into his muscles.
The moment passed.
"Red!" Leaf shouted out desperately, hearing her brother's tortured scream. She instinctively tried to reach for him. The pain in her shoulder and leg flared in protest to the sudden movement. Slumping back against the boulder, a tear took shape in her eye. "I'm so useless...I can't...I can't help him."[FONT="]
[/FONT]
It started to rain.
~~~~~~~
Author's Notes
Spoiler:
I deliberately kept any description of Red, Leaf or the masked man, Psi (who's name was chosen with a purpose. No, really) because this is, obviously, something that happens further down the line. When this event comes around, it will probably be rewritten and include more information from the plot, but I don't want to make it too easy to guess how this all works out.
There were two other potential prologues. The first I decided to postpone because of storyline tweaks (it happens earlier in the story) and the second was the aftermath of the first (which I felt just wasn't intriguing enough, although less cliche than the final choice).
There were two other potential prologues. The first I decided to postpone because of storyline tweaks (it happens earlier in the story) and the second was the aftermath of the first (which I felt just wasn't intriguing enough, although less cliche than the final choice).
~~~~~~~
Chapter One: Placing Pen to Paper
Menrionas Academy.
Leaf was transfixed by the emblem, her Butterfree mutating into a rampaging Tauros. Thirteen years old, average height and weight, long brown hair, to Leaf, she was completely alien to the grand ship that commanded attention. Unsure what to wear, she stuck with her simple duo of a sleeveless blue shirt and red skirt. She tugged the brim of what she considered her signature white hat nervously, pulling it further over her face. A familiar hand placed itself soothingly on her shoulder;
"Don't worry so much, everything will be fine." Her mother smiled, slightly teary-eyed, "My baby is growing up." Leaf tried to smile back, though the Tauros was having none of it. "The crowd is certainly smaller than I'd expect." She added, trying to change the subject. There were certainly a lot of people, yet not the huge masses one would expect at a send-off to one of the most prestigious schools on this side of the planet. "That entry exam must have really been something."
"It's better this way." Leaf muttered. She hated crowds; the fewer the merrier. The air was filled with timorous chatter as they waited to say their last goodbyes. The girl watched as another student ascended the stairs to the ship. Two of them in fact: a boy and a girl. With the human blockade in front of them, she couldn't see who they were waving to. That'll be me soon. "Do I really have to go Mum?"
"Now Leaf..." she replied slowly, "This is an opportunity many people would give their right arm for and-"
"If they did that, they'd be kicked out because they couldn't keep up with the work."
"Enough of the cheek, thank you." Her mother snapped dryly, "Listen, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Chances like this don't come often so-"
"You're repeating yourself."
"So you should make the most of it, just like..." She suddenly trailed off, "We're almost there."
"We have plenty of time. Finish your speech." Leaf said with more than a flash of annoyance. "Just like my brother and his friends? Just like Red and Blue and...and Yellow right?" People were beginning to turn round as a young girl's voice rose spectacularly. Picking this up, Leaf decided to devolve to simmering silently. The mother exhaled heavily,
"You are not them and they aren't you. Life isn't a competition y'know."
"Because I wouldn't stand a chance, right?"
"You don't make this easy, do you?"
***
"Yeah, great. From travelling to school. Really, really great. Can't wait." grimaced the boy, Brendan. He was fairly tall for his age with short black hair and golden-brown eyes. He sported a black and red long-sleeved shirt and long black trousers which turned yellow near the bottom. "Hey, May, do you know where the food is?"
"Already hungry? Jeez, that didn't take long." May smirked as she left the railing. "Come on, I know the way!" She punched a fist into the air, heading decidedly in one direction.
"Hey, care to keep a low profile? I don't want people to notice me..." he winced, "And what do you mean you 'know the way'? You've never been on this boat before!"
"People will find out about you eventually, second-placer. No doubt you'll manage to get into a battle somewhere along the way. And I've been on boats before." She called back over her shoulder. Brendan raised his eyebrows at the last remark,
"That one ferry to Johto was nothing like a boat." He said irritably, not approving the 'second-placer' comment.
"Wasn't talking about that. The boats between Slateport and Lilycove, ha!"
"Those are ferries as well! How can you not tell the difference!?" But apparently she was already out of earshot, marching right past the sign pointing to the cafeteria. Resigning himself to his fate, he followed after her, wondering when he'd ever get something to eat. "How can someone so smart be so...?"
***
He probably could have arranged to join his daughter and protégé on board, but he decided that it would be best to let them thrive on their own. Obviously meaning that May had talked him down till he agreed to let her go alone. Still, he had managed to convince her to let him join them to visit Brendan's native region, Johto, before they left for Menrionas. He shuddered at the thought of taking the Magnet Train again.
"I think I'll take the ferry to Olivine instead..." he grumbled to himself. Just then a clear ringing noise began emanating from his pocket. He dug out his Pok[FONT="]éNav: a compact, orange, vaguely disk-shaped device that could double as a handheld video phone. Activating it by pressing the large blue button in its centre, the square top half slip up to reveal a small screen flashing a name. "Oh?" he muttered in surprise, pressing the blue button again, "Now why would you of all people be contacting me?"[/FONT]
***
"Just give me one last hug and be sure to come back for the holidays." She beamed, wrapping her arms around the nervous girl, "You're gonna do brilliant, I just know it." Leaf hugged her back, mumbling something. "If only your father could see you now. He'd be just as proud of you as I am." She felt the girl's arms tighten around her. "Now off you go." They broke apart.
"Love you Mum." She said, taking the stairs. Her suitcase had already been brought aboard, so she only had her yellow hip bag with her. The journey would last a day and a half and she knew absolutely no-one on board.
"Love you sweetheart! Good luck!" Leaf waved over her shoulder, smiling weakly in reply. Her mother sighed deeply as her daughter stepped onto the deck. Moving out of the way for the next family, she looked for a place to wait – eyeing a miraculously empty bench.
She sat for a while, watching the queue thin as more children ascended the boat, saying their teary yet joyful goodbyes. After watching a pair of girls break away from their respective families to head up together, she noticed someone approaching her.
"Um...ah, Mrs. Yamaguchi?" Professor Birch asked. She looked up in surprise, but he didn't look like a news flunky.
"Yes, that's me."
"Ah...ah yes, good." He said, sitting down next to her. He seemed anxious. "I need to talk to you about..."
***
She felt incredibly conscious of how lame she must look, wandering around alone. The girl considered checking out the food, determined to find it an inadequate replacement for her mother's, but kept thinking the horn will blow for departure if she did anything. Smiling to herself as a rather loud girl passed her as she metaphorically dragged a boy with her, Leaf decided to just go and sit down.
The horn sounded.
Naturally... She smirked to herself, taking pleasure in successfully predicting the world's attempt to annoy her. Joining the rush to port side, waving her hands frantically at the crowd, she managed to single out her mother, returning her blown kisses. Her mother was standing next to a strange man also waving into the crowd with a goofy grin on his face.
The boat pulled away, the families shrinking with each rise and fall of the deck. Her own journey had begun. The sun felt fantastic on her face. The waves sounded safe and reassuring.
Everything will be fine.
-----------------------------------------------
Menrionas Academy Fact:
Menrionas Academy is located on an island (named Menrionas, hence the name) between Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and the Sevii Islands, the first regions to join the United Regions. The island resides in an area of the sea previously unclaimed, not in any of its surrounding region's waters.
The very first congresses between Kanto and Sevii were held there to discuss union, later joined by Kanto's neighbour, Johto, and Hoenn. Thus the seas around Menrionas Island were proclaimed to be the territory of the United Regions, rather than any single region.
-----------------------------------------------
Author's Notes:
Spoiler:
First of all, I'd like to thank Mizan Nix Zamnie for providing me the description of May's hair, which is frankly ridiculous. Anyway, within my timeline (to be shown at a later date), May and Brendan are now thirteen and so I had no reason not to include them. Now these characters do have canon personalities in the game, but they're obviously left bland and generic on purpose. So I'm taking some artistic freedom here and giving them actual personalities.
The little extra on the end will be a regular occurance to provide exposition. Some things are meant to be common knowledge or just not something one would talk about so fitting them in with a full explanation in passing conversation is slightly...yeah. Anyway, these will vary in length and hopefully provide some insight and cause for speculation. Totally not lazy exposition.
The little extra on the end will be a regular occurance to provide exposition. Some things are meant to be common knowledge or just not something one would talk about so fitting them in with a full explanation in passing conversation is slightly...yeah. Anyway, these will vary in length and hopefully provide some insight and cause for speculation. Totally not lazy exposition.